Did You Know?

Temper tantrums in toddlers occur the most between the ages 1 - 2, as this is when toddlers understand more than they can express.

A temper tantrum is an unplanned expression of anger and frustration that often involves physical and verbal outbursts. A child will cry, scream, stomp his feet, and thrash his arms and legs during a temper tantrum. A tantrum usually lasts from 30 seconds to several minutes, and are very common between the ages of 1 and 4 years. They can occur daily in some children, and rarely in others. They are an inseparable part of a child's growing years.

❖ Temper tantrums occur for a reason in kids, especially between the ages of 1 and 3 years. It is not about you being a bad parent or raising a spoiled kid, but a whole new phase of development and learning that they go through. These tantrums are a way of letting out their frustration, anger, or any strong feelings which they are unable to express due to limited understanding of language. The outbursts are their way of reacting to these negative emotions. ❖ The part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, that regulates emotions and social behavior, begins to develop and mature at the age of 4. Till then toddlers lack the self-control and inhibition to overcome these negative emotions. They hence react with the only possible option they know - throwing a fit. ❖ Children, especially toddlers, feel emotionally secure and free in the presence of their parents. They know that parents will be there for them and love them no matter how they behave. Hence, after being good for so long at the daycare or nursery, it is common for their emotions to flow out when parents are around. ❖ Toddlers are smart, and tantrums are their way of seeking attention from parents. They want to be heard or looked after, and they know that by throwing a fit or behaving badly they get undivided attention. ❖ Gina Mireault, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Johnson State College, in Vermont, says, "Kids this age think magically, not logically. Events that are ordinary to us are confusing and scary to them." Though it may seem ridiculous and stupid to us, in their world these things matter, and they will try and conduct their own experiments to prove things. They are curious and getting to know the bigger world that they are suddenly exposed to. ❖ They are unable to understand why their parents are always denying, scolding, or preventing them from doing something. ❖ There is a fear of abandonment by parents, sibling rivalry, confusion, expectations not being fulfilled, a long wait for needs to be satisfied, and anxiety almost on a daily basis. If parents know the triggers of a tantrum, then it is easier to deal with them.

Temper tantrums seem to occur at the worst possible time. Here are a few instances that may set children off or trigger a tantrum. ♦ Physical discomfort - like hunger and tiredness or lack of sleep ♦ Emotional overload, fear, excitement, frustration, or lack of attention. ♦ The desire for independence and doing something on their own. ♦ Curiosity to explore the world and understand it which may translate into bad behavior. ♦ Boredom and sitting idle for a long time. ♦ Change in the routine – which may make them uncomfortable and peevish. ♦ Inability to perform a task or express themselves. ♦ Rushing them from one activity to another without forewarning. Trying to avoid things that trigger or start a tantrum can be difficult initially, but with time your observations and insights will help you gain knowledge about what sets off your child and how to deal with him. If you are aware of the triggers or situations that give rise to tantrums in toddlers, then with a little planning and minor adjustment, you can try to prevent them.

Be calm and take a deep breath. That's the key. As a parent, losing your cool is a strict no-no when your tot is throwing a tantrum. If they see you losing your cool at the slightest provocation, it will be very hard for them to control their strong emotions. Use a soothing, gentle, but firm voice, and take charge of the situation. Do not leave the room in anger or storm out. Be around or your child may feel abandoned. Be patient and understanding when dealing with a toddler tantrum. Hold your child close and talk soothingly to him. Sometimes this may backfire though, and can reinforce the behavior. If that happens, you can let him cool down and then take him in your arms to comfort him. Try to make him understand his behavior and convey your feelings to him. He is more likely to understand after he has cooled down a bit. Divert their attention to something else. Children are easily distracted and if you sense that a tantrum is on its way, deviate their attention to something else. It will deflect their attention and a tantrum is kept away. However, this will work only in the initial stages of a tantrum. If a tantrum is at its peak, then it is better you let them be on their own. Be around, but take no notice of the tantrum. Make sure that they do not hurt themselves, others, or become destructive (breaking things around). Make funny faces or introduce humor, so that your child laughs. Laughing eases tension and your child will often forget what upset him. This also is only helpful in the initial stages of a tantrum. Once it becomes a full-blown tantrum, funny faces and humor might not work; it might seem that you are making fun. If your child is above 18 months old you can put him somewhere safe so that he can blow off the heat and calm down. Or you can also set a time out for him to cool down. You can try and inculcate various ways in which the toddler calms down. This way you will know the best method which can help get over a tantrum. The limits and time-outs that you set now will help control your child's temper in future as well, since he will know how to react. You will have to repeatedly tell your child about self-control and time-outs to inculcate good habits and ways to overcome his temper and bad behavior. The mistake that most parents make is reacting or responding to the tantrum. Try ignoring the tantrum and carrying on with your work, but be in his visible range. If you do not acknowledge it, a tantrum loses its appeal. And your tot will get the message, he will cool down and get back to what he was doing. If things are going out of hand, or if your child or anyone else is getting hurt, then step in and take control of the situation.

Never hit or abuse your child. It creates a very negative impression. It sends a message across that you are out of control. It also conveys that hitting and force is accepted and feelings should be suppressed. A child will have difficulty venting his feelings and will feel scared to talk about his feelings. No spanking, physical, or corporal punishment. Refrain from yelling and shouting back. It will aggravate the tantrum. At this stage, the kid needs someone to take charge and have a calming effect on him. Agreed that a loud tantrum can leave you confounded and perplexed, however, take a few deep breaths and calm down. Then decide how to respond and handle the tantrum. Do not try to reason with your child at this point. Never argue or fight with your partner/spouse in front of your child. It has a negative influence on his mind. He will get frightened, depressed, withdrawn, irritable, insecure, and will be unable to sleep. His growth, mental ability, development, and attitude towards life get affected. The toddler years are very important for the formation of a strong foundation of good values, optimistic attitude, and a positive approach towards life in your child. The differences, arguments, and disagreements should be confined to your bedroom when your child is out of earshot, asleep, or out. Don't let him take advantage of you. If you cave in to his demands, he will learn to use inappropriate behavior to get his way. Toddlers are intelligent and they will know that you give in easily. They will tend to use the same techniques repeatedly. If your tot hits you, ignores your requests, or shows any other bad behavior repeatedly, it's time you show him the consequences of his actions. Toddler tantrums are not directed at you so don't personalize. Always remember that this is a stage that your child is going through and will eventually pass. It is manageable, and with your help and guidance your child will learn better self-control. As children gain maturity, they understand their emotions better and learn to express themselves, thus minimizing temper tantrums.